Mom of 3

What a Day!

What a day been here today, glorious sunshine and warm with it. Took the dogs for a stroll down the track, me in just a tea shirt, mind you had to were my wellies as puddles everywhere from yesterdays rain and back to it tomorrow so they say. Had a phone call from my son in Australia, about time to young man, but thats men for you! And how could I forget! What a start to my day! Winner of

WOYWW

I've not long got myself motivated for the day and this is a first joining in the fun with WOYWWand what better way to spend my time when mojo flat than having a nosey around the block. A cuppa and about 20mins before time to get hubby's dinner prepared. My first piccy and yes it's messy!! Must have a tidy but then I always seem to be tidying up and it always ends up like this again in no timel!!

A touch of Autumn Sparkle!

Afternoon folks, my what a dark day it is to, the mist is blocking my bonny view and pouring with rain. Finally got motivated today and yes! this card is late. Birthday card to give to my friend's daughter. Not a girly girl but added some sparkle to bring out the beauty of the Autumn colours which she likes, me too!  Used Mos digital image,'beginnings' I think it's called, was a freebie at the

lil' photo books anyone?...

I hope I don't sound to "saleladyish" here, but I love it when people share with me good deals.  So here it goes- I love finding deals on photo books.  They are lots of fun to put together and my kids love to look at our family photos in an official "book form".  Here is a great deal I came across today:

Free shipping and only pay 99 cents for a 6x6 hard cover photo book.  Click here to get one.  But you have to act fast.  I think they only give out 5000 today. And to get the deal, you have to post it on your facebook wall (and then click "like" on your own link and then click on the link and the coupon code should appear).

Here's a book I made for Alice:

Also, if you are new to artscow.com will you let them know?  If I refer you, I can get YOU 1200 free prints, three 8x8 photo books, and a bunch of other fun photo gifts (I just made little photo magnets of my family the other day which are super fun and were totally free, and are fun if you are putting together FHE magnet boards!).  

By referring you, I'll get 200 free prints, so be sure to email me (fowlerfam@gmail.com) and I'll send you a referral link.  

Here's some cute wallets I made of Alice (also free- just $2.50 total for shipping on 1-10 sheets of these)

I love the site.  TONS of free stuff.  You do have to pay for shipping, but it is pretty cheap- I just ordered 100 free 4x7 prints and I only had to pay $5.99 TOTAL.  Here's a link to all of their shipping prices (which are good to know, but I promise you they are the best price around!).  The 5.99 covered the shipping and there was no tax.  It is MUCH cheaper than ordering prints from Costco or Sam's club- which is usually the best price in town.  So if you like to print out your digital photos every once in awhile (I do- I'm trying to tackle year 2009 photos right now), this site is for YOU!

Are we having an Indian Summer!!!!

Loved this idea from my dteamie Debbi over at Simply Create and just had to have a go, mind you, have altered the design slightly on the way. So enjoyed making this and just got carried away. One for my collection as I love the papers and these adorable images from PB, don't want to part with it. Colour combo chosen to fit PB saturday challenge 'Indian Summer' and while on this subject there's

Autumn Colours

This card started off to be something totally different, but after I had made the background I knew it had to be an Autumn card. I ran the card through the cb and then swiped ink to highlight the design, then ran through with a different folder and coloured it again. The quote is a digi which I printed on to cream metallic card, and finished off with a flower and brad.
There are quite a few Autumn challenges on at the moment.


Stamp Challenges 
Creative Cards Crew 
Everybody Art 
Paper Sundaes 
FabnFunky using a quote

Another Christmas card

Sorry for the crooked scan - I don't know what happened there. I have coloured this lovely digi with copics, and used a little glitter on the 'white fur'
I am entewring the following challenges
Simon Says - sketch
 Secret Crafter - anything goes
A Spoonful of Sugar - Anything Goes
Charisma - Anything

A Lovely Sketch

I needed some new birthday cards, so sat down yesterday and had a play around. I have used the lovely sketch from Sketch and Stash and also used some new red pearls, which toned in nicely. I used a cuttlebug die for the handmade flowers.
I am entering in the following challenges
Sketch and Stash #44
 
Tuesday Morning Sketches (handmade flowers)
Charisma (Anything goes)

Jolly Good Time!

Bought this Penny Black Jolly Good Time set and said,Carol! this will make all your cards this year, well! that statement went flying out the window weeks ago, just couldn't resist the new Hero Art stamps out on my trip to Simplky Create yesterday to deliver my DT projects. Have said that's it but then again going to Hobbycraft show in October, will I be able to resist, time will tell. Bought

Is paper a solid?

If it is, then I guess Alice has "started on solids".  Today in addition to her daily breastmilk, she ate:
1.) her older brother's homework and 

2.) a page from a library book (which costed $30 mind you).  It was a really cool wood-working book from the 70's about building forts and playhouses and toys for your kids. 

Paper is considered organic right?

I can't wait to read all the good literature I'll find in her diaper tonight.

Simply Create DT card

Busy day out and about today, delivered my cards to Simply Create, will be on show in shop for all to see. Off course had to do a bit of craft shopping therapy, so much new stash to tempt the weak like me! Had a good blether with Jacqui and then down the road to Huntly for an afternoon of crafting. Tend to spend more time chatting than producing works of art, managed one, just need to add the

Playing with Alcohol Inks

I have not had these inks long and was keen to have a play with them. I used a shiny card, and after applying the ink, I ran it through the c/b, rounded the corners, and attached to a d/l card. The little tag says Thank you, and can be taken out of the vellum pocket. Finished off with some punched flowers and added some 'bling' to their centres.
I am entering the following challenges.
Crafty Cardmakers - alcohol inks
Simon Says Stamp Challenge   - Move it (the tag comes out)
Secret Crafter  a>  - Anything goes
A Spoonful Of Sugar   - Anything goes

v camera skills

We've been watching "old" family videos lately.  I used to have these posted on my sidebar, but the application (don't use dropshots!) suddenly stopped working.  So here they are again.  I know, my video making skills are aMAZing...










Gawsh my kids are cute!

DT Project for Simply Create

Morning folks, my 1st creation for Simply Create. Couldn't wait to get playing with these gorgeous MME i believe papers, Bazil card, Hero Arts Christmas trees stamp, some yummy buttons and ribbons all supplied by Simply Create. All that needs to be done is HAND deliver them, well any excuse for a little spend!!!! and it's a real pick me up to, fab shop and a friendly news with Jacqui and Anne.

ancient phone pics

Tonight I got all the pics off of my camera and onto our computer.  I hadn't ever done this before (other than once in a blue moon emailing myself a pic), so there were quite a few OLD pictures on there.  It was fun to look through them once again, and made me miss those younger days a bit.  I've had my phone for 4+ years, so there were pics on there from April 2006!

Here's some of my favorites:

  This one has been my phone wallpaper.  I just love it.  That's James and Johnny (as a baby- doesn't he look like Alice?)

Johnny right after getting his lip surgery back in May of 2007

This was a picture I took in my OB's office bathroom.  I thought the urine cup next to mine was one of my friend's (it had the same name as her).  I snapped the picture and sent it to her as a text message telling her I'd had a run-in with her urine.  Turned out it wasn't her.  So I ended up with a picture of some stranger's urine on my phone.  Kinda creepy.

Me looking young and chipper

My cute little Jimmy.  Don't I have cute babies?

Jimmy last summer in the car in the hot Texas heat.

Johnny in the car in the hot Texas heat

This was the day we moved from Alexandria, VA to Arlington VA.  Poor little Jimmy.  I was so busy moving things and packing boxes, I set him in front of the TV.  He totally fell asleep like that. 

This was Jimmy back in 2007 walking down an aisle at Walmart with a garbage can on his head.

Awwwwww, cute little 3 day old newborn Johnny doing a "thinker" pose in his car seat.

Grandma Tillie who let us stay at her summer cottage out at Spring Lake when we got home from China and needed a place to stay temporarily.

 Johnny right before his lip surgery

Me and little Jimmy.  Oh, he was so cute!  A little butterball like Alice.

Some lego creations of Jimmy's 

 James and I young and in love (still are the latter)

 Jimmy acting like a hoodlum

Johnny getting eyebrow stitches the first time around

Johnny and cousin Jasper in the costco carts

Johnny and his foot.

Johnny getting eyebrow stitches round two

Me and little Jimmy (does his head look huge or what?)

And last but not least...

A recent one of Alice

My makes

I Made to enter the DT for Simply Create

Having a break from making my DT project for Simply Create been at it since this afternoon although I had a few breaks for a coffee or two. Sould really stop for the night but once I get my teeth into something just want to keep going! Thought I would share with you my cards and box since I have no challenge cards on the go.

Digital image from Phindy's

M.E. gets in the way!!

But hopefully my sneak peak will blow it away!


Morning folks
Not been around lately and haven't made a card all week, off colour more than usual (don't want to bore you but someone out there might be in a similar situation you know) and a little niggle has  always been in the back of my mind, for seven years in fact, do I have M.E.! So many conditions out there with the same symptoms and your

Alice at 4.5 months

As of this post, Alice is now 5 months, but during her Dr.'s checkup a couple of weeks ago (at 4.5 months), these were her stats:
weight: 19 lbs 3 oz.
length: 26.75"
Head: 44.5 cm

That's over 96th percentile for all three.  Tonight I found out why she is so big- I found James' baby book, and her Daddy was about this same weight/height as a baby.  At 5 months, he was 20 lbs, 27" long!

 Alice is rolling all over the place.  I'll set her down on a big blanket in the living room and within about 45 seconds, she's rolled off it.  Sometimes she'll roll under the couch even.  She's such an easy going baby.  She barely ever fusses.  Most of the time is a pretty happy-go-lucky little girl.  She is enamored by her big brothers.  If they are in the room, she gives them her utmost attention and watches their every move.

She also is toying with real crawling.  James saw her get up on all 4's (hands and knees) yesterday.  If she's anything like her brothers, she'll be crawling in 2 weeks.  They both crawled around 5.5 months.  Crazy early.  Too early.  With Jimmy I was excited he was moving onto the next step.  Now with Alice, I've lost all my  pride.  I just want her to stay my cute, cuddly, immobile baby.  She has a love for paper.  If there is a newspaper or magazine sitting around, she'll roll/scoot on over to it and try to devour it.

The doctor said we could start solids.  I'm putting it off as long as I can.  I am in love with breastfeeding her.  I know this is something I will have to let go of soon, but I love to look at her beautiful little body and think I've given that all to her.  I know she's really interested in moving on to mother nature's big and better and tastier things, but I am wanting to draw it out as long as I can.  We'll probably introduce in the next few weeks.  Until then, "just add milk"...

On another note, I finally unpacked the last box, and we are officially moved in!  The guest room is already...

Who wants to come visit?

My first 'C' card for this year

Making a start on my Christmas cards, this cute snowman digi is coloured with Sakura glaze pens, and watercolours. He is layered on to spotty paper, then striped and then plain green. The stripes and spots are printed on my computer. I am entering the following challenges:-

Southerngirls challenge - anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - lets go dotty
Stamp Challenges - spots and stripes
Friday Sketchers - sketch
Crafty Sentiments 'digi'  (The snowman is one of their digi's) Thanks

Brown Purple and Cream Penny Black Saturday Challenge

This time I did follow the theme, Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week is Brown, Purple and Cream, Not colours I would of experimented with but hey, it works well I think. Another Christmas card done and dusted, way ahead of last year, hope I don't go down the slippery road and end up like last year!



Linen Cream cardHero Arts Flourish Pine DotsPenny Black Star DanceTH Dusty ConcordOpaque

Anything Goes INT

Afternoon folks. glorious September day here today, 20degrees the forecasters say, well I hope they're right. Have made this envelope holiday journal photo keepsake for my friends daughters 12th birthday. Way ahead of myself for a change woo hoo! She is going on holiday in October for her holidays so I thought this would be a lovely keepsake for her!
Am entering this in the New challenge blog

Autumn Leaves

This is something that I haven't done for a while - using peel-offs!!!
However it fitted in with the following challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - clean and simple
The Secret Crafter - clean and simple

A sweet little girl

This is the lovely image I chose as my prize in a challenge recently. I have layered her on 3 different papers and glittered her wings, as well as the butterfly wings. I also added some sparkly gems across the middle. I am entering in the following challenges
Crafty Cardmakers - glitter and sparkle
Incey Wincey designs - Celebrations
FabnFunky - whateva

A Touch of the Blues!!

Hi folks, made this card a couple of days ago and as usual never fits the challenges on the go at the time. Never seem to set out with a theme or follow one, seems to of been the story of my life, take it as it comes except when something exciting is happening (not much of that nowadays) then, I want it happening right now.
Having a browse on the net and suddenly remembered about Sir Stampalots

Beaver Lake

To celebrate the holiday, we spent the afternoon and evening out at the nearby lake called, Beaver Lake.  Beaver Lake is really beautiful and pristine.  There are a number of sandy park beach-like settings.  We got out at a place called Rocky Branch, and James and the boys enjoyed taking a dip in the crisp water. 

After frolicking, we packed up and boarded a bulky boat called the "Beaver Lake Cruise" and spent about 2 hours with a park service guide and got the low-down about the lake and it's history.

The boys loved jetting across the big lake in the boat.

Some little know facts (well little know to us): Believe it or not- the lake is man-made!  It is a reservoir formed from the White River.  The lake was completed in 1966 and sits high in the Ozark mountains.  The lake has become a huge recreational park with over 2000+ ACRES of campgrounds!  There are 12 different parks around the lake, and the lake itself has almost 30,000 acres of surface area, so it is quite large!  One in 8 Arkansans drink water that comes from the lake, and the lake is also useful for its hydro power and flood control.

To be on the "cruise" we all had to wear life jackets- including Alice.  She didn't quite know what to make of it.  She is already quite "fluffy" and the extra padding made us feel like we were holding a balloon.  But she was a good, calm little girl, and even fell asleep in my lap 1/2 through the tour.  She was a bit cumbersome to hold though all buoyed up and so she was passed around a bit between James and I.

One cool thing was that we got to watch the sunset 3 different times that evening since our positioning on the lake kept on changing and therefore our horizons/views kept changing.

 It was beautiful and nothing I can re-create very well on the camera unfortunately.

The boys' favorite part was getting to see and touch the real Beaver claws/feet/tails they passed around.  And at the end, James and the boys sat at the front of the boat and enjoyed the "wind in the hair" feeling as well as made a couple silly faces with each other, while taking pictures.

I loved looking out at the vast lake and thinking about how much I am falling in love with Arkansas.

We'll definitely be back to play again Beaver lake!